Battery light for refrigerators, ice boxes, closets, and the like



G. A. BAYLHS LUGM `AND THE LIKE Apri@ 25, 11933,

, cLosETs Filed July 17, 1931 BATTERY LIGHT FOR REFRIGERATORS, ICE BOXES ATTORNEYS Patented pr. 25, 1933 P AT E NT OF F l GEORGE A. BAYLIS, OF HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK BATTERY LIGHT FOR REFRTGERATORS, ICE BOXES, CLOSETS, AND THE LIKE Application filed July 17,

tuated slide is provided for closing the circuit l of a lamp when released.

Another object, more specifically, is to provide for an ice boX or other article a comparatively small fixture inclu-ding a casing and provided with a lamp at one point and a sliding pin at another point with means for attaching the casing so that the door may move the pin to an inoperative position when the door is closed, the pin when moved outwardly acting to close the circuit of the lamp to provide illumination for the ice box or other article.

ln the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through part of an ice box and through a device embodying the invention which is shown applied in operative posi- U tion.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the device shown in Figure 1 with one wall removed and the casing shown in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 2 approximately on line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the circuit of the battery and lamp illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates an ice box of any desired kind, the same being provided with a door 2. The box 1 is provided with a jamb strip 3 which may be held in place by any desired means. Coacting with the amb strip 3 is an extension l of casing 5. A screw or other fastening means 6 extends through the jamb strip 3 and extension 4.in order to secure the casing 5 in position as shown in Figure 1. lt will be evident that the same arrangement or some other arrangement could CFI 1931. Serial No. 551,525.

be used for securing the device to a door jamb or other support when used with a closet or other closure or container.

The casing 5 is preferably of metal and is preferably provided with a hinged end 6 held in place by suitable catches 7 and 8 whereby access may be freely had to the interior. The end 6 carries a spring Contact 9 held in place by a suitable-rivet 10 but insulated from the rivet and froin'fthe casing by suitable insulatingmembers 1.1' and 12. This arrangement is provided inv orderjthat-the respective batteries 13l and 14 may be connected together in series. VThese batteries are held in the casing 5 by a-suitable double bracket 15 soldered or otherwise secured to the casing 5. It Will be understood that when the end 6 is swung open, batteries 13 and 14 may be slid out ofthe casingand back into position or new vonesmay be slidv into positionfif preferred. VContact plates 16 and 17 are arranged at the end of the casing 5 opposite'end 6, said lates having contact fingers 18 and 19, each Finger being somewhat resilient and engaging the respective termiil nals on the batteries 13 and 14. It will be noted that the plate 16 is insulated from casing 5 by suitable insulating structure 20 though the plate 17 is in electrical engagement 'with the casing at all times. This plate is provided with turned-up ears or flanges 21 and 22, the ears or fianges being apertured as shown in Figure 1 for carrying the pin or rod 23 which also extends through a suitable aperture in casing 5. A spring 24 surrounds the pin 23 and presses at one end against fiange 22 and at the other end against the small pin 25 -carried by the pin or rod 23. At the inner end of the pin or rod 23 a sleeve or disk 26 of fibre or other insulating material is'finally clamped in place and moved back and forth with the rod. The parts are so positioned and the sleeve 26 is of such a size that when the parts are in the retracted position as shown in Figure 1, disk 26 will be out of Contact with anything. When spring 2st functions to move the parts shown in the position shown in Figure 2, disk 26 will be pressed against the contact linger 27 and will press this finger against the Contact 28, carried by suitable insulation 29 mounted on casing 5. rThe contact member 28 is in the nat-ure of a rivet and clamps the Contact linger 30 in place as shown in Figure 3, said finger being positioned to engage the center Contact 31 of the lamp or bulb 82. The shell Contact 33 is screwed into a threaded socket 534 preferably formed integral with the casing 5. As one end of the battery 14 is grounded through plate 17, current passing through finger 30 may pass also through the lamp 32 and out through the shell 33 and socket 34. Y

As illustrated in Figure 4, the current passes Jfrom the respective batteries v13 and 14 through the lamp 32 and from thence through the contact finger 30 to the finger or extension 2T and Contact plate 16 and from thence back to the battery. When the parts are mounted in operative position as shown in Figure 1, the door is closed and the resiliency of the finger 27 causes the same to move away trom the contact 28 as soon as the disk 26 has-been moved t0 its inoperative position. Immediately upon the door 2 being opened, spring 24 will quickly move the parts to the position shown in Figure 2 whereupon the disk 9.6 will press the finger 27 against the contact 28 and thus close the circuit so that )the interior of the ice box or refrigerator will be immediately illuminated. As soon as the door is closed, the parts are again moved to their inoperative position.

By arranging the parts as described and using the extension 4, the device may be used on ice boxes, refrigerators and other places without mutilating any part of the refrigerator or other article. The device may be applied and removed at any time and, of course, uses current only when the door is open.

what is claimed is:

l. A battery light for refrigerators, closets and the like comprising a casing formed with :1n extension adapted to be connected to an ice box or the like, a pair of batteries arranged in the casing, means for connecting the batteries in series, said casing formed with a depressed portion presenting a lamp socket, a lamp positioned in said socket, means forming a circuit including said batteries and said lamp, said means including a switch and a reciprocating member for closing said switch` a spring acting on said reciprocating member for moving the same to a closed position, said casing holding said reciprocating member positioned to engage the door of the refrigerator, whereby said door is adapted to move the reciprocating member to an open position when the door is closed.

Q. A device of the character described comprising a metallic casing formed with a hinged end, catches for normally holding said end closed, a flat spring connected centrally through said end and extending on each side of the central Connection, means for insulating said spring from said end, a pair of batteries arranged in the casing and positioned so that one end of each battery will be in Contact with said spring whereby the batteries are arranged in series, a circuit including a lamp and said batteries, said circuit also including a resilient Contact finger, a sliding rod and a spring for moving said sliding rod in one direction, said rod having a disk of insulating material thereon positioned to move said resilient finger to a closed position when the rod has been moved by said spring, whereby said circuit is closed.

GEORGE A. BAYLIS. 

